Champions in two previous occasions, Romania’s Elizabeta SAMARA and Andrei FILIMON successfully started their journey at the ROMSTAL European Mixed Doubles Championships. At the Event that started today in Buzau, top seeds faced no pressure in their duel against compatriots Lucian MUNTEANU and Cristina HIRICI.

In the same, Group A, Zoltan PETE and Aleksandra RADONJIC overcame Huseyin DURMAZ and Damla UZEL of Turkey, who lost against MUNTEANU and HIRICI as well.

Andrey BAYBULDIN and Mariia BYKOVA of Russia added the dose of suspense in almost clear run of favorites in all other groups. In Group B, Russia’s pairings exceeded the ratings and secured the top position at the end of the day. They succeeded in both rounds, and lost only game. BAYBULDIN and BYKOVA overcame Montenegro’s Irfan CEKIC and Ivana DALOVIC, despite the fact that CEKIC is in good shape, after he won the title in Luxembourg at the Small States Games. They also beat Pavel PLATONOV and Alexandra PRIVALOVA of Belarus the top seeds in the Group B. Belarus duo overcame Turkey’s Safa AVCI and Sanem Ezgi SAHIN. Hunor SZOCS and Camelia POSTOACA of Romania accounted for Turkish mixed double and they overcame Montenegro’s representatives.

Lubomir PISTEJ and Barbora BALAZOVA of Slovakia left Serbia’s Uros GORDIC and Marija GALONJA without game, and lost one against Michal OBESLO and Hana MATELOVA of Czech Republic, but without being seriously threatened. Constantin CIOTI and Iulia NECULA of Romania followed their path. They beat GORDIC and GALONJA and succeeded against Gençay MENGE and Ipek KARAHAN of Turkey. OBESLO and MATELOVA also accounted for Turkey’s pairings.

In Group D favorites cruised through two opening rounds. Ovidiu IONESCU and European junior champion Bernadette SZOCS showed no mercy in the duels against Russia’s pairings Maxim EFROYKIN and Anastasia GOLUBEVA. They also left Belarus duo BARABANOV and Katsiaryna BARAVOK without hope. We are all looking forward tomorrow’s duel in between IONESCU and SZOCS and Antonin GAVLAS and Renata STRBIKOVA. Czech duo is also unbeaten and so far they lost had not only single game. Alessandro BACIOCCHI and Giorgia PICCOLIN of Italy and EFROYKIN and GOLUBEVA suffered by their hands.